Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 27, 1932. R. M. GETCHELL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Filed July so, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR BY W wflw W /M4im/% H/E ATTORNEYS Sept. 27,1932. R. M. GETCHELL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v IN VEN TOR w 27.

I ,m fl/S ATTORNEYS R. M. GETCHELL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Sept. 27, 1932.

Filed July 50, 1928 NV T .v Y wfifw HIS ATTORNEYS.

I partly in section of Patented, Sept.- 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEIvroI-"FICE ROBERT M. amount, or narrow. 01110, .assrenon ro rareinamn coaronarron, or

DAYTON, onro, A coaroaATIoN or DELAWARE REFRIGERA'IING arraaa'rus I Application filed .I'uly'30, 1928. Serial 110.296,!363.

This invention. relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a refrigerant liquefying unit adapted to be used in a refrigerating system.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerant liquefying unit which is self-contained and in which the condensing element is air cooled.

Another object is to provide 'an improved b location for a fan Within the unit so that air circulated thereby will cool the compressing element, condenser, receiver and driving gear. I

A still further object is to enclose the unit within a unitary-structure so as to facilitate manufacture and provide a compact unit which maybe readily disassembled.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown. 1 v In the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a view partly in elevation and a refrigerant liquefying unit embodying features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top Elan view of a portion of the unit shown in ig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a view partly insection and part ly in elevation, the section being taken along the line,33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one form of gear pump which maybe used in the unit, with the top plate removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the casing shown in F 1' g. 4, taken along the line 55 of Fi 4. l

Fig. 6 is a vertical view in elevation of the gears shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the bottom plate of the gear pump.

' Fi 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the hue 8-8 of Fig. 7. q Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along 5 the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the top plate of the gear pump; and

F'g. 11 .is a vertical cross sectional view taken-along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10. A refrigerant liquefying unit adapted to be used in this refrigerating system includes '1 a compressor which delivers refrigerant toa condenser, where the refrigerant is liquefied.

From the condenser the refrigerant may be delivered to a refrigerant receiver where the liquid refrigerant is stored, ready for use.

From the receiver the refrigerant is delivered to an evaporator, for instance of the float controlled valve type, where the refrigerant is evaporated and from which the evaporated refrigerant is returned to the compressor. v

The refrigerant liquefying unit comprises a compressor generally designated as. 20 which delivers the compressed refrigerant to a condenser generally designated as 21 from which the condensed refrigerant is delivered to a refrigerant receiver 22. The liquid refrigerant is delivered from the receiver 22 thru the fitting 23 to an .eva orator, not shown, which may be of the oat controlled type and from which the refrigerant is returned to the compressor 20. The elements comprising the'refrigerant liquefying unit are adapted to be mounted in a vertical or circular casing designated as 30 and having a. smalldomeshaped portion at its upper end. This casing comprises a bottom cup-shaped section generally designated as'3l on which a ring 32 rests, whichring is a portion of the oil reservoir hereinafter to be described. The section 33 rests on the ring 32 and forms the fan and motor casing. Air for cooling the motor condenser and other, parts enters thru 0 enings '34: and comes in contact with the refrigerant receiver 22, the condenser 21 and passes thru an opening 35 in a horizontal plate.36.whence it is driven by the fan 37 out thru the air passage 38 in the dome portion of casing 30. The fan being located in the central portion of the unit has an adv'anta e in that, it increases the velocity of air 50w throu h the unitand tends to cool various parts t ereof more rapidly. This velocity increase is due 7 to the fan being mounted in a position whereby, it not only draws air into the unit but also forces air from said unit. Heat 'generated by the compressing elementand drivingsmotor whichare located adjacent the path of flow of air is carried away by the circulated air. v

h The refrigerant from the evaporator is delivered to the compressor in any suitable manner, but it ispreferred to pass the re frigerant fii'st thru a seal chamber generally designated as 39 which will be hereinafter pipe 43 pressor 15.

' chamber described and is delivered in a compressedwardly which forms the bottom half of the reservoir condition thru the oil reservoir generally designated as 46. The oil reservoir 46 extends a over a relatively large area within the unit and lies in the path of circulating air. Air flowing around the reservoir reduces temperature therein and lowers the head-pressure of the refrigerant compressor 20. The outextending portion of pump casing 85' 46 is disposed in the path of circulating air and serves as a bafiie for directing air over the condenser coil 21. From the oil reservoir 46 the refrigerant is delivered thru the open-, ing 47 and a suitable fitting to the condenser 21 where the refrigerant'is liquefied and is delivered in 'a liquid condition to the receiver 22. The condenser 21 is of spiral form, and includes a plurality of turns of finned tubing connected in series with the receiver 22. The receiver '22 is of a doughnut shape, being circular in top elevation and receives the refrigerant from the condenser 21 thru the fitting 48. The receiver 22 is located ad-. jacent the air inlet openings v34 provided the casing 31 and disposed in the path of flow of air thereby, insuring complete liquefying of gaseous refrigerant which might enter the receiver.

The compressor 20 may be driven by means of the motor generally designated as 50. The motor maybe of any suitable construction and may be provided with arotor generally designatedas 51. The fan 37 may be connected in any suitable manner to the rotor 51. A driveshaft 52 may be connected to the rotor 51. The rotor 51 may have an upper bearing 55 which-may be lubricated from grease reservoir 56 around the bearing 55. A suitable spring urged wick 57 may be provided to lubricate the bearing 55 and any excess lubricant may drip on the seal funnel 58 and may be used to augment the lubrication of the seal 54. Thedrive shaft 52 may be seetional and may be keyed to a second section as at 59. The second section 60 may be keyed to another section 61 which in turn is keyed to the drive shaft 62 of the compressor 20.

The compressor 20 is of the gear pump variety which is hereinafter described but forms nopart of the invention. The pump comprises three gears 63, .64 and carried in bearings 63a, 64a and 65a. respectively.

The intake of the compressor delivers the.

refrigerant to the gears in the zone 66. .The refrigzerant reaches the zone 66 thru an open ing 6 plate 68 rests on a plate 69 which is the cover for the refrigerant inlet chamber 44. Theplate 69 is provided with an opening corresponding with the opening 67' inthe plate 68. Part of the refrigerant is pumped to' the outlet 70 in the lower plate 68 and the outlet 71 in the upper plate 72 by the' gear 63. Another portion of the refrigerant is carried between the teeth ofgear 64 around to an intermediate release chamber in the bottom plate 68. The bottom 73 from whence it is carried by the teeth of gear 65 around to the outlets 70and 71. The outlet 7 0 in the lower plate 68 is provided with 'a horizontal passage-way 73a and a vertical passage-way 74 which is adapted to convey the compressed refrigerant thru the passage-way 75 in the pump casing 76 andon up to the passage-'way-77- in the [cover plate-72which delivers the refrigerant to the oil chamber 46. Two outlet passages are thus provided, since the gears, are of the herring bone variety and deliver the refrig erant both at the to and bottom of the gears. Both the bottom p ate 68* and the top plate 7 2, are provided with release openings 80 which convey the partially compressed refrigerant thru horizontal passages 81 .to openings 82 wherethe refrigerantis caught by the gear 65 and conveyed to the outlets. ,The end of the passage 81 may be blocked and is bored to the edge of the plate merely'because .of the convenience in manufacturing. Suitable bolt holes 79 may be provided in the end plates 68 and 72 and the pump casing 76 for boltingthe parts together.

Byprovidlng'an intermediate stage 73,

the lubricant which slips back thrufintermeshing contact of the gears 63 and 65 is arrested. in the intermediate chamber 73 where a part of the pressure is released' thus setting free' the greater part of'th refrigerant dissolved in the lubricant which is then caught between the teeth of gear 65 and is returned to the outlet.

The gear pump 20-is adapted tobe' con-- I tained in a funnel-shaped casing 85 which forms the bottom half of the oil reservoir 46.

The oil in the reservoir 46 may stand at the level about half way in the reservoir. Thus the compressed refrigerant is delivered thru the outlets 71 and 77 bubbles up thru the lubricant and is delivered to the, condenser 21 thru the outlet 47. Since the refrigerant bubbles up thru the lubricant, a

ber {16 as'the lubricant acts to prevent the 1 formation of an oil spray. The top of the lubricant chamber 46 is formed by'a plate 86 which is surrounded by radial beams 87 on the ring 32. The plate 86 is provided with a casing 88 which forms the seal chamber 39.

The seal chamber 39 contains a balanced seal. In general it may comprise a sylphon '89 which carries hermetically connected thereto a bearing ring 90 a'dapted to cooperate with the stationary ring 91 to form a seal at the joining surfaces. The shaft 52 may be provided with an extension ,92. on'which the sylphon bellows 89 may be secured as by brazing or the like. The extension 92 cooperates thru the mediumof a suitable bearing ring 93 with a stationary ring-94, brazed or other-wise secured to the casing'88. The section 61 of the drive shaft is adapted to fit in this ring 94. Thus it is seen that the seal chamber 39 is subjected to the pressure on the low side of the refrigerating system and is' thus interposedbetween the high pressure side at 46' and the atmospheric pressure at the motor 50. I prefer to make the width of the corrugations of the sylphon 89 equal tothe width of the bearing surface of the ring 90. This construction insures a balanced condi-. tion of the seal so that it isunafl'ectedby pressure or vacuum conditions in chamber 39. The resilience of the bellows maintains contact between the rings 90 and 91. Suitable .oil gauge means may be provided to indicate the height of refrigerant in the lubricant reservoir. As a specific embodiment, passages 101 may be provided as shown in F1 g. 2, which passages extend to different levels in the oil reservoir. By providing cocks at the ends of these passages it is possible to" determine the height of lubricant by testmg the character of refrigerant or lubricant blown out of the passages- Suitable check valves may be provided, and

' such check valves may be placed on the suction side of the compressor and if-desired, on

the high pressure side also.

The different parts as shown may be oined by the use of suitable gaskets and bolts as indicated in the drawings. Thus, for 1nstance, the plates 85 and 86 may have a gasket 95 interposed the'rebetween andsultable bolts 96 may be provided for assembllng these parts together. Ifdesired a part of. the casing 31 may be clamped between a suitable rmg 97 and the ring 32 by means of bolts ,98 wh1ch also secure the portion 33 with the mug 32. The lubricant reservoir 56 may be provided with a suitable cover 99. In general, other parts may be secured by bolts or screws as shown in order to form a unit for installation with orin a refrigerating cabmet or for connecting with any other refrigerating systemwith which it is to be used. v

, By virtue of this construction an eflicient disassembled should it be necessaryto repair any part thereof. I x

While the, form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

Whatis claimed is as follows: 1. A refrigerating apparatus comprisin a vertical casing, a motor and compressor in said casing, a condenser in said casing, a plate located between said motor and compressor adapted to direct airflow in said casing, and a fan driven by said motor adjacent said plate for driving air upwardly through said casing.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vertical casing having air ports therein, a motor' and in said casing, a condenser in' said casing, a plate in said casing having a central aperture and located between said motor and compressor, and a fan driven. by said motor ad- Jacent said aperture for circulating air through said casing and'air ports.

compressor in vertical alignment to the intake of said compressor, "a lubri- I cantreceiver for said seal above said seal chamber, said fan surrounding said chamber and lubricant receiver. 7

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vertical casing having air ports therein, a ,motor and compressor in vertical alignment in said casing, and a fan located between said motor and compressor for circulating air through said casing and air ports, said compressor including a seal chamber between said. motor'and' compressor, a refrigerant low pressure line leading through said cham her to the intake of said compressor, a.lubricant receiver for said seal above said chamber, said fan surrounding said chamber and lubricant receiver and a high pressure lubricant and refrigerant reservoir around said chamber.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a casing, a motor and compressor in said casing, a condenser within the casing coiled about the compressor, a fan in sa1d casing, means inthe path of air moved by sa1d and fan for directing air over thecondenser, a I

second means for directing said air to the central portionof said fan.

6. A'refrigerating apparatus comprising a casing, a motor and compressor in said casing, a condenser within the casing and coiled about the compressor, a fan in said casing, a portion of said compressor dis osed in the path of air moved by said fan or directing air over the condenser, a plate for'dire'cting said air to the central portion of said fan.

' a about the compressor,

7. A refrigeratin apparatus comprising a casing, a motor an compressor in said casing, a condenser within the casing and coiled a fan in said casing, said. compressor provided with an outwardly extending portion disposed in the path of air moved by said fan for directing air over the condenser,'a plate having a central aperture adapted to. direct said air to the cen tral portion of said fan. Y

- e 8. .A refrigerating apparatus comprising a casing, a-motor and compressor 1n said casing, a condenser within the casing and coiled about the compressor, a

fan in said casin said compressor .provlded with an outwar ly extending portion forming an oil reservoir, said extending portion disposed in thepath of air moved by said fan for directing air over the condenser, a plate having a central aperture adapted to direct said air around the reservoir and to the central portion of saidfan. A r v 9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vertical casing having air ports therein, a"

motor and compressor in vertical alignment in said casing, a condenser in said casing disposed about the compressor, a fan in the casing between said motor and compressor, a plate in said casing having a central aperture and located between said motor and compressor, means in the path of air moved by said fan for directing air o er the condenser;

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a vertical casing of circular form in cross-section and including a small dome-shaped portion at its upper end, air; inlet openings in the lower portion of said casing and air outlet openings in the dome of said casing, a motor within the dome of said casing, a compressor operatively connected with said motor and disposed there-.

below, a condenser within said casing and surrounding sald. compressor, a fan for 'circulating air into said casing through said inlet openings and out of said casingthrough said outlet openings, and means wlthin said casing for directing the circulating airover said condenser.

In testimony whereof' I'hereto aflix my I signature.

RO BERT M.. GETGHELL. 

